NASA sponsored a number of diverse and exciting events in observance of Asian American/Pacific Islander History Month. The events, which celebrated the cultural heritage of Americans descended from the peoples of the Pacific Rim, included a cultural demonstration May 1, an Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Luncheon May 3 and a golf tournament May 24. The luncheon and the golf tournament were sponsored jointly with the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC).
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Chen poses with members of the 'Devotion
in Motion' Hawaiian dance troupe following an Asian American/Pacific Islander
Heritage Luncheon May 3.
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Performances by pop music artist Marijune Scott and two Hawaiian dance troupes
were showcased during the May 1 ISF event. The audience, dazzled by Scott's performance
of original songs from her 'Can This Be True?' CD and her cover of Mariah Carey's
"I Still Believe," were no less enthralled with the performance of the Pearls
of the Pacific dance troupe and the Edwards Young Wahina Dancers.
Pearls of the Pacific - comprised of Melany Ente (a comptroller with the 795th
Civil Engineering Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base) and sisters Alisha, Mimi
and Misty Tampon - has been performing authentic Hawaiian dances for Asian American/Pacific
Islander events since 1995. In addition, Ente formed the Edwards Young Wahina
Dancers three years ago with fifth graders Samantha Hunt, Jeanˇtte Lee and Michelle
Arnold.
With 232 people in attendance at the May 3 luncheon, organizers were quite
pleased with the success of that program as well.
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Pop singer Marijune Scott is shown with the
Pearls of the Pacific dance troupe during the cultural demonstration in Dryden's
ISF May 1. Also appearing were members of the Edwards Young Wahina Dancers.
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"The room was packed full of people from Dryden, AFFTC and Edwards. It was
wonderful to see so many people turn out for this event," said Equal Opportunity
Specialist Jack Spear who, along with Equal Opportunity Assistant Tonya Wieck,
co-organized the event with the AFFTC.
"We heard many great comments about the cultural demonstrations, the guest
speaker and the food," added Wieck. "Everyone had a wonderful time learning more
about Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures, watching the fabulous performances
by Devotion in Motion, hearing Marijune Scott sing and listening to our guest
speaker, Ted Chen."
Chen, a general assignment reporter for NBC 4's News in Los Angeles, was introduced
during the event by Dryden's Chief Financial Officer Gwen Young.
"We're celebrating all that is American when we celebrate African American heritage, Native American heritage, Latino American heritage and Asian American/Pacific Islander heritage," said Chen.
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Representing Team Dryden at the May 24 Asian
American/Pacific Islander Golf Tournament were (from left to right) Ed Teats,
John Marcum, Tommy Cramp and Ken Cross (seated). The tournament was held at the
Muroc Lake Golf Course at Edwards Air Force Base.
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"This event does more than celebrate the Asian American/Pacific Islander heritage,"
Chen noted. "It emphasizes the importance of getting involved in our communities,
of having a voice and participating in the process as we should."
"I encourage you to get involved in your communities," stressed Chen. "The release of the Pearl Harbor movie is approaching [May 25]. Remember that day and how thousands of loyal Americans were rounded up into camps merely because of how they looked. Remember them, remember this."
Thrilled to have been invited to be the guest speaker at Edwards, Chen also later noted Edwards' and Dryden's own heritage as the "home of the pioneers in the sky."
"I was excited to come to the base because it was a new audience and new venue for me," said Chen. "I'm pleased that [Edwards and Dryden] took the time and effort to recognize the heritage and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by holding the luncheon."
"I also came because I had never been out here before. It was a great personal opportunity... and a professional one as well, since I will cover aviation and NASA stories from time to time. I thoroughly enjoyed my tour... and my experience with the flight simulator. It made me appreciate what difficult and rewarding jobs all of you have," said Chen, referring to his visit to Dryden and tour of the SR-71 simulator following the event.
